- Based InLittleton, CO
- Service areasDenver, CO & surrounding areas
- Work Experience33+ years
- Animals ServedAll Dogs & Cats
- Notice Required2 hours
General availability
Friday10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Availability each week can vary based on demand and scheduling. Please provide a minimum 2 hour advance notice for all bookings.
Why I provide at-home pet euthanasia
Becoming a veterinarian was a natural choice for me given my upbringing in which nearly all activities revolved around our animals. I followed the passion that was instilled in me by my family. I performed my first at-home euthanasia in 2007. It was an amazing experience with an owner and pet I had been caring for in clinic. I'll never forget what a beautiful day it was as I watched the owner kiss each of her dog's feet as he fell asleep in his beloved yard. It opened my eyes to how euthanasia could be and should be. Since then I have strived to provide excellent service so my clients and patients have the best possible experience in such a difficult and tender time.
Education
Undergraduate: Bowling Green State University - 1988
Veterinary Medicine: Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine - 1992
Certifications
3CAETA's CPEV (Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian), Human-Animal Bond Certified, Fear Free Certified
- Based InLittleton, CO
- Service areasDenver, CO & surrounding areas
- Work Experience33+ years
- Animals ServedAll Dogs & Cats
- Notice Required2 hours
General availability
Friday10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Availability each week can vary based on demand and scheduling. Please provide a minimum 2 hour advance notice for all bookings.
Services provided
At home pet euthanasia
Dr. Lori Schmalz will help your beloved pet transition peacefully in the comfort of of their home, surrounded by loved ones
Est. CostStarting at $349
Keepsakes
Clay paw prints, wooden urns with personalizations available with ashes returned
Est. CostFrom $18 - $265
Quality of life consult
Schedule a 1-on-1 with a vet over a virtual conference call or at home.
Est. CostStarting at $225
What pet parents are saying
Dr Schmalz was so understanding and compassionate. She helped us to allow our beloved Tavi a peaceful passing. Giving us all the time we needed to say our goodbyes.
Thank you, Dr. Schmalz, for your kindness and compassion while I was dealing with the transition of my boy Bentley this afternoon. I never felt rushed or awkward while I blubbered and cried and listened to his last breaths. You gave me plenty of time to be with him as long as I needed. I was so comforted with how peaceful he looked all bundled up in blankets and his head resting on a pillow. It may seem weird, but that's now one of my favorite pictures of him. Thank you.
Dr. Lori is the best, so kind, gentle, and heart centered. Thank you Dr. Lori for existing and the work you do. Would 1000/10 recommend 👌
Our beloved Bernese Mountain Dog's health had been steadily declining for weeks. When we came to the gut-wrenching realization that his quality of life and health were so poor that it wasn't fair to him to let him suffer, we knew we had to intervene. When our previous pup reached this point several years earlier, we took her to our vet to be euthanized. It was absolutely awful seeing her for the last time on a vet's sterile, stainless steel table. We didn't want a repeat of that, so we contacted Dr. Lori. Dr. Lori has a beautiful, calming demeanor and reassured us that we were making the right decision. She came to our home so our pup could die peacefully and comfortably, surrounded by family. Having him die at home made this awful experience manageable, and she eased his passing in the most humane way. Our last sight of our pup was seeing him lovingly bundled in soft blankets in the back of her vehicle. He deserved to die with dignity and Dr. Lori provided that. I can't recommend Dr. Lori enough for a pet's end-of-life care.
Dr. Lori was compassionate, empathetic and efficient in her care of my dog. She reassured me and explained every step of the process. She was also kind and compassionate towards my other pets. I highly recommend Dr. Lori and this service.
Yes I am so glad we did it at home and Dr. Lori is amazing she didn’t rush and was very understanding and I felt like it gave Lola comfort and dignity in the end. For this being one of the hardest days of my life I am glad we had support from Dr. Lori.
It’s difficult to give a great review of one of the worst days of your life. Dr. Lori was so compassionate and moved at a pace I was comfortable with. She made sure my dog ,Red, was relaxed and comfortable the whole time. She arranged the transport to the crematorium and we received his ashes in less than a week. I would call on her again for her services.
Dr Lori’s demeanor was grounded and peaceful and she helped make a terrible experience a little more bearable as we put down our beloved family dog. She was respectful, walked us through the process, let us ask questions, and gave us plenty of time to say goodbye.
Dr Schmalz was very professional, compassionate and explained the whole procedure very well. This was our first dog, and he was absolutely beloved, so we much appreciated Dr Schmalz professionalism. - Keith
Dr. Lori was very kind and compassionate. Saying goodbye to our beloved Jazzy Pizzazzy was a very painful process, and Dr. Lori somehow managed to make us feel at ease, letting us know that it was the best for our furry fiend. Thank you, Dr. Lori.
Dr. Lori Schmalz was so kind, patient, and professional when performing the difficult task of euthanizing our beloved cat in our home. She responded on very short notice and made the process as smooth and peaceful as we could ask for. We appreciate her services so much and would highly recommend.
Dr Lori was so incredibly empathetic and professional. She helped us send our furbaby over the rainbow bridge in our backyard under a tree on a sunny spring morning. She treated our Bear with compassion, dignity, and respect. She was so kind to us as we went through this very sad loss of our boy of 16 years. I will call her again to help my other aging babies cross the rainbow bridge when their time comes. Thank you, Dr Lori for guiding us and helping us through this difficult event.
Dr. Schmalz was incredibly patient with us and the weather as we were trying to create a calm, relaxing environment outside for Apollo's last hours with us. She was very communicative and had a calm demeanor that even put our other anxious dog at ease. Dr. Schmalz explained everything from start to finish without creating any feelings of pressure or feeling rushed. She had all of the necessary materials to make the experience casual, yet respectful and professional. I am so glad she was the one to help our loved one cross over the rainbow bridge.
Everyone thats had to have their beloved pet put to sleep knows how difficult it is. Having the option to be in the comfort of home made it a little more bearable. Dr.Schmalz was so kind and caring, explaining everything to me, and assured me I was making the right decision. My Ruby left this world peacefully.
Dr Schmalz made one of the worst days of our lives, as peaceful as it could be. Tesla laid on her favorite blanket, one she always stole from me, on the front porch where she watched over the neighborhood, a simple shot and it slowly took effect as she ate her doggy ice cream. Dr Schmalz was kind and empathetic and reassured us we were making the right decision. We are very thankful she helped us through such a difficult time.
Making the decision that my beautiful dog, my best friend and companion through good and bad, needed to be euthanized was one of the most difficult of my life. Finding CodaPet and particularly Dr Lori Schmalz for in-home euthanasia, was a relief for both me and my dog. Dr Lori is so compassionate, reassuring and sweet that Scooby's passing was gentle slide from pain and distress to calm comfort. I will recommend her to anyone facing this decision for their pet. CodaPet's online scheduling is simple and takes just a few minutes. I even had to change the appointment because in the middle of the night Scooby began to breathe shallowly and he became suddenly much worse. At 3am I was able to change my appointment to the first one available. Thank you so much Dr Lori.
Dr Schmalz was extremely patient and made the transition very peaceful. I’m so glad I did an in-home treatment. Dr Schmalz explained everything and I had time to say goodbye. Sad but not stressful.
Only time can ease the heartache and grief of our beloved dog Murphy's death. But having the professional caring and compassion of Dr. Schmalz to facilitate the process in our home provided a certain peace and dignity that a clinic simply cannot.
Dr. Lori was very kind and compassionate and even offered to move up my appointment due to the amount of pain my dog was experiencing. She had a very calming presence and made an extremely difficult process as comforting as possible.
What am incredibly difficult decision it is lead your baby to the Rainbow Bridge. My Chloe had turned 14 on Valentine's Day, and although she'd been slowing down for over a year, the beginning of March proved that she was getting markedly worse. After researching home euthanasia services I decided on CodaPet. I was able to schedule the date and time on line which was simple but anything but easy. Dr Lori arrived at the appointed time and was very understanding and respectful. She answered all of our questions and honored all of our wishes. She was gentle and caring and treated our Chloe with the utmost respect. I would absolutely recommend Dr Lori and CodaPet for anyone having to go through this gut wrenching part of being a dog parent.😭
Dr. Lori help help make a terrible day a little bit better by being so kind and caring for our cat on his last day. We were able to get an appointment scheduled quickly when things took a turn for the worst, and she was very helpful throughout the entire process. Highly recommend, professional, great communication, supportive!
We were so thankful that Dr. Schmalz was able to come to our home on a Sunday (the same day we contacted her) to provide an in-home pet euthanasia for our sweet, beloved cat who had started to suffer dramatically the night before. Although putting a pet down is always incredibly difficult to decide upon and go through, we were so grateful that Dr. Schmalz could do this in our home where our cat was most comfortable and at peace in his final moments, where we felt more able to grieve openly, and where our other pets could be close by and better process the loss. Having now been through pet euthanasia procedures in both clinical and at-home settings, I will always choose in-home pet euthanasia going forward. Dr. Schmalz was so kind, compassionate, and respectful and really made this process as peaceful as we could ask for. Thank you so much for this amazing service.
I highly recommend CodaPet to anyone who has to make that difficult decision to say goodbye to their fur baby. Dr. Lori was absolutely amazing. She was so kind, compassionate and patient. She made such a scary experience truly beautiful. I had my Doobie 15.5 years and when the end came the last thing I wanted was for him to be afraid. She made him so comfortable and peaceful in his own home and bed. I am so grateful I made the decision to contact CodaPet.
Dr Lori is an amazing person. She was so kind, gentle and thorough. She carefully explained every step of the process. She gave us opportunity to ask questions and think things through and even change our minds along the way. We were able to help our good boy cross over feeling safe and comfortable at home with his people. Thank you so much Dr Lori.
After over 16 wonderful years with my beloved shih tzu, Pumpkin, the time came to say goodbye. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, and an incredibly emotional time. Dr. Lori and Codapet helped make this heartbreaking process as gentle and compassionate as possible. Dr. Lori was incredibly kind and supportive throughout, treating both Pumpkin and me with deep care and respect. She ensured Pumpkin’s passing was peaceful and comfortable, and for that, I am truly grateful. Even now, thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. Thank you, Dr. Lori, for your compassion and for helping my sweet girl leave this world with dignity. I’m still waiting to bring her home, but I know in my heart that this was the kindest way she could have gone. Your kindness and comfort meant the world to me. My baby is now at peace, and I can grieve knowing she was surrounded by love and gentleness in her final moments. That kind of peace is truly priceless. Thank you again.
Losing my buddy Bexley was the second hardest thing in my life (second to losing my brother, a close second). He meant so much to me. We've been through so much together! He was a Colorado born dog but had traveled with me from coast to coast (multiple times). I was super fortunate in that we were together almost 24/7 since COVID. When I had to go into the office, my boss let him come too. He made the office brighter. Clients loved it! I've worked from home the past three years making our close bond even closer. Dr. Schmalz was extremely kind, professional, efficient, thorough and COMPASSIONATE! She made sure any questions I had were answered. She treated him with so much respect and dignity. Even though he traveled thousands of miles in cars, he never liked riding in the car. I cannot imagine driving him to the vet for this process! How that would have made him feel. Because of Dr. Schmalz, he was able to be relaxed at home on his pile of favorite blankets! This meant the world to me; ensuring he could be as comfortable as possible. Thank you Dr. Schmalz!
Dr. Lori helped us through a very hard time. She made a very difficult time tolerable. Dr. Lori followed up to make sure we were doing ok through all of this.
Dr Lori was thorough in her explanation of the full process and how it all would be experienced, by us as well as Freddie. She was calm, thoughtful, patient and kind.
Dr. Lori led us through the whole process, step by step. She loved on our dear doggie Kai like she had known him for years. She made a very difficult decision so much more loving for our fur baby. It was obvious in every step she took that she cares for the pet families that she serves.
Dr Lori was wonderful. Kind and caring during one of our saddest days. She listened and was patient. She made our sweet Ella's passing so sweet and pain free. She listened to all the stories of Queen Ella and seemed to agree that she was the most incredible dog to ever exist!! She is an incredible human and we are so glad we chose her.
We lost 2 of the best boys ever yesterday. They were together and at home when Lori came to ease them out of their suffering. She was so kind and thoughtful towards them and our family. What was a gut wrenching day was made substantially more tolerable by her kindness and professional care.
Dr. Lori was extremely compassionate and patient during our visit. We could not have asked for a better experience. Her love for animals is evident from the time she walks in. Thank you again, Dr. Lori!
I cannot even begin to express my thanks to Dr Lori!! Wow! I had to see BOTH of my senior babies go at the same time and it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life. Dr Lori was exemplary in everything she did. She was kind and gentle to everyone involved and I couldn’t have asked for a more caring person. I cannot recommend her enough. Thank you for making a hard day as easy as possible. From the bottom of my heart! Thank you
Dr. Lori was so kind, professional , and so gentle with my beloved dog before she passed and after. She explained the procedure step by step and let us grief in private before taking Zuka away. I highly recommend her and my family and I thank her for her exceptional respect of the situation and kindness she showed us.
Dr Lori made this such a peaceful experience and has so much respect for the process. I am so grateful that my sweet boy got to leave this world in the easiest way possible and felt no pain. She gave us as much time as we wanted and allowed our other pup to say goodbye and take as much time as she needed also. I am so grateful.
Dr. Lori was amazing - Kind, caring and professional. We had to put down our 14 year old lab whom we had since literally Day One. He was delivered in our home from or sons lab and was the last one living out of seven pups. Dr. Lori made a tough transition more palatable - and peaceful. We highly recommend her and thank her for her services.
Dr. Schmalz is calm and patient in all that she does. She's gentle and helps answer any questions every step of the way. My dog greeted her with curiosity and Dr. Schmalz just let Bella sniff and explore until she was comfortable. My dog selected her special place for her last moments, and Dr. Schmalz accommodated that without question. It was important to me that my other dog be present and that worked out well. We never felt rushed in any way.
Excuse me if this is redundant, I thought I left a review... I will keep Dr. Lori Schmalz's information and happily recommend her to anyone going through this process. She was gentile, kind, patient, and compassionate. This can not be an easy job and takes a real special person to do it and Dr. Lori is that person. Our family can't thank you enough. The Reeses
Lori was very compassionate and patient with me throughout the process. She assured me that I was doing the right thing for my sweet Dehlia. She shared her vet experience with me and allowed me to spend time with her after. I highly recommend Dr. Lori and coda pet
Dr Lori made a difficult and emotional situation as peaceful and assuring as possible. She was kind, respectful, and communicated throughout every step in the process. She held space for us to say our good bye and express our love and care for our dog. I highly recommend an in home euthanasia and scheduling with Dr Lori. Her empathy and care is apparent and appreciated. We know our dog felt no pain and was at peace during her final minutes with her humans. Maura and Tony
I have had pets euthanized in the past but my experience with Dr Lori was the best experience I could have had in such sad times with baby, Oscar. She was so gentle, calm, kind and not once did I feel rushed by her. Dr Lori talked to me about Oscar’s life, my favorite memories and I know that his at home, euthanasia, with her, was the best choice for him. I felt so comfortable with handing her over Oscar and knowing he was in the best hands he could be in. Thank you again Dr Lori!
Grief is tough, there's no way around it, especially when the one who departs is very close to your heart and is pretty much your furry twin soul. Dr Schmalz offered guidance and advice during the whole process and was very kind and compassionate with everyone involved in the process, especially with Jazzy Pizzazzy. I hope I never have to go through this experience again, but if I do, Dr. Schmalz will be my first choice. Thank you Doctor, for making everything more bearable.
As horrific as this experience is for everyone, I don’t think we would be in nearly as good of shape if it weren’t for Lori. She clearly isn’t doing this for the money, she realized that she can help people get through this experience and we are so thankful and glad to have chosen this option and had the fortune to have her help guide our sweet Cleo and us through this journey. Thank you Lori.
We chose Dr. Lori to do our at home euthanasia with our 14 year old doggie who was ready to cross to the rainbow bridge. Dr. Lori was very professional, patient, caring, had a very calm presence, and you could tell Dr. Lori has lots of experience. She is extremely good at what she does and I feel so blessed she helped us with this difficult time:( I have referred her to many and will continue to refer her. Thanks Lori!! xoxo
I have had pets euthanized in the past but my experience with Dr Lori was the best experience I could have had in such sad times with baby, Oscar. She was so gentle, calm, kind and not once did I feel rushed by her. Dr Lori talked to me about Oscar’s life, my favorite memories and I know that his at home, euthanasia, with her, was the best choice for him. I felt so comfortable with handing her over Oscar and knowing he was in the best hands he could be in. Thank you again Dr Lori!
Dr. Lori helped us through a very hard time. She made a very difficult time tolerable. Dr. Lori followed up to make sure we were doing ok through all of this.
Dr. Lori was amazing and so caring during such a difficult time. She made sure we and our Little Ella was completely comfortable. She took time to explain everything, and we never felt rushed. She listened to our stories about how Ella was the greatest dog ever to lived and seemed to agree! She is a wonderful human being! Thank you so much for your kindness and expertise!
Dr Lori was kind and did everything right. It was peaceful and she helped me through this difficult time. Compassionate and Professional
Dr. Lori came to our house yesterday to help us say goodbye to our kitty. She seemed to have all the time in the world for us. She had the skills to handle our feisty cat and stayed very calm and kind. She recommended that we let our dog come and see the cat before she took her away, so he would understand why she was gone. She asked my daughter, who is 17, if she wanted the cat on her lap for the last part, and my daughter was thankful for that. Thank you, Dr. Lori.
We chose Dr. Lori to do our at home euthanasia with our 14 year old doggie who was ready to cross to the rainbow bridge. Dr. Lori was very professional, patient, caring, had a very calm presence, and you could tell Dr. Lori has lots of experience. She is extremely good at what she does and I feel so blessed she helped us with this difficult time:( I have referred her to many and will continue to refer her. Thanks Lori!! xoxo
Dr. Lori Schmalz Was the best. Beyond caring and helped my wife and I through the transition. Hardest Dravidian I ever made in my life but she was there the whole way through to help.
Dr Lori was absolutely wonderful. She cared for me, my other pets and especially focused on taking gentle thorough care of my baby who had oral cancer and could no longer eat or drink. I will seek her out specifically if/when I have to make the super hard decision to let go in the best interest of my babies in the future. On such a terrible day, she was warm, comforting, and knowledgeable. You can tell she has a heart for animals passing with dignity comfort and peace.
This was such a hard day, but Dr. Lori made it easier and more peaceful. She truly cares about her patients and their families. I'll always be grateful for the way she handled us and the respect she gave to our sweet old girl.
We were facing the agonizing experience pet owners face when our beloved Joey, a mixed breed rescue dog we had for over eight years. He was approximately 15 years old and his heart was giving out on him. I had searched in-home euthanasia on line and found CodaPet. Dr. Lori Schmalz came to our home to help us end Joey's suffering. Dr. Schmalz was calm, caring, and compassionate. She checked Joey's heart, and agreed with our vet that it was time to have Joey peacefully put to sleep. Dr Schmalz made this most difficult decision we make as pet parents as calming and peaceful as possible. We would highly recommend CodaPet, and Dr. Lori Schmalz to everyone who need to help their pet transition peacefully, not only for the pet but also for the loving "parents" of the the pet!
Such a difficult time putting down our sweet cat of 18 years. But having Dr Lori come to the house it made the process so much easier with Dr Lori's compassion, explaining everything letting both our cat and us take our time with the process. No other way to go than to use Coda Pets and I would request Dr Lori. Thank you!
I am grateful that I had Dr. Schmalz come to help with Flapjack. She was kind and caring. She did not rush but made sure that Flapjack was comfortable. Having to help your pet leave is the hardest thing to do. Dr Schmalz did her best to make the process easier for us.
I cannot even begin to express my thanks to Dr Lori!! Wow! I had to see BOTH of my senior babies go at the same time and it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life. Dr Lori was exemplary in everything she did. She was kind and gentle to everyone involved and I couldn’t have asked for a more caring person. I cannot recommend her enough. Thank you for making a hard day as easy as possible. From the bottom of my heart! Thank you
Dr. Lori was kind, compassionate, and professional. She was not in a hurry and allowed us time to appreciate the last moments of our cat's life. Dr. Lori had a calming presence and that helped everybody including our cat. I can recommend Dr. Lori without any reservations. She is the best.
I couldn’t have asked for a better solution to my dog’s end of life than the service that Dr. Schmalz performed. My dog was calm and comfortable throughout the procedure which made the experience so peaceful. I couldn’t have been more satisfied with how this went.
Dr. Schmalz was very kind and caring towards us and our dog Toby. She made sure we understood the process and gave us time after to be with Toby. She suggested that we have our other two dogs come up and see him after, which we did, and we feel that was such a good thing for them. They know what happened and they aren't looking for him in the house. Dr. Schmalz clearly loves animals and she made sure that Toby was very relaxed and could not feel any pain before she gave him the final meds. She was careful with him when we put him in her car to go to to be cremated and I have no doubt that she was very careful with him once he was out of our care. While this is always the most difficult and heartbreaking decision, it was comforting to know that Dr. Schmalz was there and we knew she cared about us and our Toby. Thank you for providing a wonderful service.
Dr. Lori was so kind and compassionate. She was also a consummate professional. She educated us regarding the process and took her time to make sure we were ready and understood. She gave us time and privacy to grieve and say our last goodbyes after we sent our beautiful baby over the rainbow bridge. I highly recommend her. Sh was amazing throughout the entire process.
Dr. Lori made, what is undoubtedly one of the most painful experiences - in home pet euthanasia - as comfortable as can be. She was so warm, caring, and understanding of what emotions our whole family was going through. She helped us as we were struggling with that question that I’m sure many people experience. Are we making the right decision and is it the right time? She gave us so much reassurance. She was also so loving towards our sweet Max, who didn’t understand what was going on. It felt like she had known him a long time. She was gentle and yet professional and helped him pass peacefully. She gave us all as much time as we needed afterwards and cared for him like he was her own dog. Can’t say enough of how appreciative we are towards Dr. Lori.
I felt very fortunate to have Dr. Lori with us when it was time to say goodbye to our dog, Olive. Lori was extremely professional, gentle, kind, compassionate, knowledgeable, and tactful. She went out of her way to come to our home earlier than planned, as Olive was quickly declining and seemed to have increased pain. Thank you so much, Dr. Lori.
We are so appreciative of the rapid assistance and kindness shown us by Dr. Schmalz when our Pepe needed help. The end of a beloved pet's life is a difficult time for everyone and we are thankful we had Dr. Schmalz to help us through it. The services provided were professional, extremely responsive, and we highly recommend Dr. Lori.
Dr. Lori Schmalz was the best possible person to get me through something that's unbearable. She's compassionate and professional and I'm happy that I found her.
Dr. Lori was simply amazing. She was so caring and sympathetic from the moment she stepped into our home. She explained the process very clearly and made us feel Very comfortable. At no point this she try to rush my baby’s passing. She made her feel comfortable until the point she wasn't feeling anything anymore. She allowed us to let Pancha go with dignity and honoring her beautiful life. My whole family, kids and dogs were allowed to be present and everyone was able to go through the process at their own pace. I highly recommend coda and Dr. Lori. Thank you again for being so caring.
We are so grateful for Dr. Lori. She helped us feel at peace with our decision even though it was the hardest thing we have had to do. We would recommend Codapet and Dr.Lori to anyone facing this difficult decision. Thank you for being there for all the families who have had to say goodbye their fur babies.
It takes a special kind of person to be able to offer the kind of service Dr. Lori does. She showed immense compassion and allowed us all the time we needed with our little guy. Being at home provided a more peaceful transition for him as he was not stressed. I can't recommend Dr. Lori enough.